Healthy Eating

Healthy eating starts by making informed food choices. Choosing a variety of nutrient-rich foods as the foundation of what you eat can help you live a longer, healthier life. Tufts experts keep you up to date on everything from shopping for the best meats, fish, fruits and vegetables to nutrition-smart food preparation and more.

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Vitamins & Supplements

The best way to get the nutrients your body needs is by eating a balanced diet. But it's not always easy to meet your daily requirements of certain nutrients from food alone. Tufts experts separate the facts from the hype on supplements. You'll find unbiased information on vitamins like B-complex, C, D and E, supplements like omega-3 and lutein and essential minerals like magnesium and potassium and how they can protect or, in high doses, even harm your health.

Exercise & Mobility

The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are hard to ignore. Exercise can prevent weight gain, help you lose weight, reduce your risk for chronic diseases, even improve your mood. There are many ways for older adults to include physical activity and promote mobility. You'll discover in-depth ideas for protecting your mobility and independence, and receive the latest news on joint health, inflammation, and healthy bones.

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Healthy Heart

A healthy heart is essential to remaining active and full of energy. Protecting your heart is easier than you might think. Taking steps such as limiting certain fats and including "good fats" that improve your cholesterol can reduce your risk of coronary artery disease, heart attack and stroke. You'll learn about the most important steps you can take to ensure a healthy heart from the experts at Tufts.

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Healthy Mind

Understanding how our brain functions is related to what we eat is an emerging area of fascinating scientific discovery. Learn how certain foods and nutrients affect cognition, and get the facts about brain-boosting foods such as green tea and dark chocolate so you can live the most mentally healthy lifestyle possible for years to come.

Healthy Aging

Feeling fit and well will help you get the most out of your everyday life as you age. Tufts experts will give you the knowledge to manage your health and offer tips on to increase your energy and maintain your independence. Stay on top of the latest health research to get the most out of life.

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NewsBites July 2018 Issue

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Seeing Smaller Portions Creates New Normal

Reducing food portion sizes may shift a person’s perceptions of what is a normal amount of food to eat and induce them to choose smaller portions next time, suggests a study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Researchers recruited participants for the study from staff and students at the University of Liverpool, UK, to participate in a series of three laboratory experiments lasting up to a week.

In the first experiment, female diners were randomly assigned to receive one of two portions (large or small) of quiche for lunch. The next day, the participants returned and were invited to serve themselves whatever portion they desired; those who had been served the smaller portion the day before tended to choose smaller portions. The second experiment tested male diners instead of female diners, and found the same results.

Finally, in the third experiment, both male and female diners were included, but this time they were assessed a week after the initial lunch. Researchers administered a visual questionnaire to gauge what portion sizes looked “normal” to the participants. Diners previously served smaller portions rated the smaller portions on the questionnaire as more normal. All three experiments pointed to the idea that being served smaller portions can shift perceptions of what is the “right” amount of food to eat, even up to a week later. The researchers noted that downsizing portions of commercially packaged foods could hypothetically alter public perceptions enough to counter the phenomenon of “portion distortion” that may fuel high obesity rates.